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Here's wishing India's new coach

A wave of optimism washes over Indian cricket each time the national team is given a new coach. The coach is seen as a god from the machine who will deliver the world-beating team millions of Indian cricket fans lust for. At the highest level, the successful coach is a hands-on strategist whose impact is felt long-term. Even a super coach cannot remedy a flawed, change-resistant system to which, at various points, Greg Chappell, a great Australian cricketer, held an unflattering mirror. Many cricket-lovers in India believe in the need for radical restructuring and reform but much of the cricket establishment has been in denial. Whatever the judgment on Chappell the coach, it is undeniable that he spoke truth to power (see our editorial "End of a mission"). Has the Indian cricket board learnt from the experience?

The selection of Graham Ford as the new coach must be approached with this key question in mind. The South African was the best-qualified among the candidates, with coaching credentials earned from largely successful terms with Natal, South Africa, and Kent and backing from India's senior cricketers. Ford is seen as a back-end player — quiet, unlikely to rock the boat, but clear-sighted and uncompromising on what he wants. He is said to have a keen eye for talent — can anything be a better trophy than his reported discovery of the genius of Kevin Pietersen? — and an empathetic facility for helping inexperienced cricketers make the transition. As Kent's director of cricket, he showed he could work with a team of specialist coaches. But for India to make the most of its new coach — who was fired by the South African cricket board after helping the side to eight series wins in 11 — the cricketers must buy into his vision and commit themselves to what it takes, including a lot of sweat. Series in England and Australia are not won by over-the-hill teams resisting progressive change for whatever reason.

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